Shade plants for zone 6 gardening
This is a full list of shade plants that will survive a Zone 6 hardiness gardening zone. Each plant contains two links providing growing information, watering needs, flower color, and when it blooms. Enjoy our photos.
Additional Shade plants based on the gardening zone.
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
Zone 10
Zone 11
Images sourced by Monrovia. Find more shade plants by selecting Monrovia banner.
Alaskan Fern
Polystichum setiferum
Item #3649
Shade Loving
Adiantum pedatum
NEW PLANT
Hosta plantaginea ‘Aphrodite’
Item #3698
Fragrant
April Remembered Ice Angels® Camellia
Camellia japonica ‘April Remembered’
Item #1460
Winter Flowering
Orchid Frost Spotted Dead Nettle
Winter Jewels Blue Diamond Hellebore
April Remembered Ice Angels Camellia
Spring’s Promise Ice Angels Camellia
Red Baron Creeping Wintergreen
Winter’s Snowman Ice Angels Camellia
Winterglow Heart-Leaved Bergenia
Regal Red Japanese Painted Fern
Quicksilver Chinese Wild Ginger
Pohjola’s Daughter Rhododendron
Luxuriant Fringed Bleeding Heart
Very Berry Creeping Wintergreen
Royal Heritage Strain Hellebore
Ursula’s Red Japanese Painted Fern
Moonlight Parfait Winter Daphne
Golden Duchess Eastern Hemlock
Looking Glass Heartleaf Brunnera
Pine Knot Select Strain Hellebore
Golden Angel Japanese Shrub Mint
Winter Jewels Golden Sunrise Hellebore
Winter Jewels Painted Hellebore
Winter Jewels Apricot Blush Hellebore
Winter Jewels Cherry Blossom Hellebore
Winter Jewels Black Diamond Hellebore
Winter Jewels Amber Gem Hellebore
Winter Jewels Cotton Candy Hellebore
Winter Jewels Peppermint Ice Hellebore
Winter Jewels Painted Doubles Hellebore
Gold Collection Champion Hellebore
Gold Collection Winter’s Song Hellebore
Moonlight Chinese Hydrangea Vine
Gold Collection Cinnamon Snow Hellebore
Gold Collection Pink Frost Hellebore
Winter Dreams Double Fantasy Hellebore
Winter Dreams Cassis Red Hellebore
Winter Dreams Ruse Black Hellebore
Ashwood Elegance Pearl Hellebore
Winter Dreams Picotee Hellebore
Red Rhapsody False Hydrangea Vine
Ashwood Single Pink Picotee Shades Hellebore
Redstone Falls Trailing Heucherella
Fire and Ice Panicle Hydrangea
Night Heron Chinese Fairy Bells
Bowles Cunningham Common Periwinkle
Gold Collection Jacob Hellebore
Windcliff Hybrid Hellebore (Seedling Selection)
Ashwood Single Pink Picotee Shades Hellebore
Ashwood Double Bicolour Shades Hellebore
Windcliff Double Pink Hellebore
Windcliff Red Seedling Hellebore
Windcliff Slaty Blue Hellebore
FrostKiss Penny’s Pink Hellebore
Windcliff Fragrant Pachysandra
Windcliff Slaty Blue Hellebore
Windcliff Double Purple Hellebore
Winter Jewels Amethyst Gem Hellebore
Winter Jewels Harlequin Gem Hellebore
Winter Jewels Sparkling Diamond Hellebore
Winter Jewels Jade Tiger Hellebore
Winter Jewels Golden Lotus Hellebore
Gold Collection Merlin Hellebore
Northern Starburst Rhododendron
EverColor Everoro Variegated Sedge
EverColor Everest Variegated Sedge
Winter Jewels Double Slate Hellebore
Little Vision in Purple Astilbe
Jurassic Pterodactyl Eared Lady Fern
Jurassic Stegosaurus Holly Fern
Winter Jewels White Pearl Hellebore
Winter Jewels Rose Quartz Hellebore
Winter Jewels Onyx Odyssey Hellebore
Winter Jewels Red Sapphire Hellebore
EverColor Everlite Variegated Sedge
Northern Exposure Amber Heuchera
Northern Exposure Red Heuchera
Winter Angels Charmer Hellebore
FrostKiss Cheryl’s Shine Hellebore
FrostKiss Molly’s White Hellebore
FrostKiss Pippa’s Purple Hellebore
FrostKiss Dorothy’s Dawn Hellebore
Little Cuties Shimmer Heuchera
T Rex Ruby Slippers Rex Begonia
Metallicum Japanese Painted Fern
Northern Exposure Silver Heuchera
Northern Exposure Black Heuchera
Dreams Garden MacaRose Begonia
Dreams Garden MacaRouge Begonia
Arc En Ciel Cinquefoil
Potentilla ‘Arc En Ciel’
Item #1948
Summer Flowering
Aurea Marginata Plantain Lily
Hosta fortunei ‘Aurea Marginata’
Item #0692
Shade Loving
Auslese Lady’s Mantle
Alchemilla mollis ‘Auslese’
Item #0201
Shade Loving
Autumn Fern
Dryopteris erythrosora
Item #3624
Shade Loving
Beacon Silver Dead Nettle
Lamium maculatum ‘Beacon Silver’
Item #2489
Summer Flowering
NEW PLANT
Beesia deltophylla
Item #5002
Woodland Garden
Beni Gaku Hydrangea
Hydrangea serrata ‘Beni Gaku’
Item #4234
Summer Flowering
Black Negligee Snakeroot
Cimicifuga ramosa ‘Black Negligee’
Item #3951
Woodland Garden
Black Velvet Foam Flower
Tiarella x ‘Black Velvet’ P.P.# 12348
Item #7308
Dramatic Foliage Color
Dicentra spectabilis
Item #0484
Native Plant
Bowles’ Common Periwinkle
Vinca minor ‘Bowles’
Item #7613
Cottage Garden Plant
Bridal Veil® Astilbe
Astilbe x arendsii ‘Bridal Veil’
Item #0159
Showy Flowers
Bright Lights Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Bright Lights’
Item #2561
Woodland Garden
Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’
Item #2122
Dramatic Foliage Color
Brunette Snakeroot
Cimicifuga ramosa ‘Brunette’
Item #0430
Woodland Garden
Athyrium niponicum ‘Burgundy Lace’ P.P.# 15072
Item #2206
Dramatic Foliage Color
Cameo Series Blue & White Columbine
Aquilegia flabellata ‘Cameo Series Blue & White’
Item #0272
Compact Habit
Cameo Series Rose & White Columbine
Aquilegia flabellata ‘Cameo Series Rose & White’
Item #0081
Cottage Garden Plant
Calycanthus floridus
Item #1451
Fragrant
Aspidistra elatior
Item #0345
Shade Loving
Cherry Berry Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Cherry Berry’
Item #1676
Dramatic Foliage Color
Corydalis flexuosa ‘China Blue’
Item #2817
Showy Flowers
Astilbe chinensis ‘Pumila’
Item #0352
Deer Resistant
Polystichum acrostichoides
Christmas Tree Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Christmas Tree’
Item #2510
Shade Loving
Cinnamon Fern
Osmunda cinnamomea
Item #3641
Water Garden
Gaultheria procumbens
Athyrium filix femina ‘Cristatum’
Item #3610
Shade Loving
Blechnum spicant
Item #2812
Shade Loving
Astilbe x arendsii ‘Deutschland’
Diamond Tiara Plantain Lily
Hosta ‘Diamond Tiara’
Item #3253
Shade Loving
Dixie Wood Fern
Dryopteris x australis
Item #2123
Woodland Garden
Double Knock Out® Rose
Rosa x ‘Radtko’ P.P.# 16202
Item #3090
Improved Disease Resistance
Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Nanus’
Item #6312
Easy Care Plant
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Elegans’
Item #4183
Shade Loving
Endless Summer® Blushing Bride Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Blushing Bride’ P.P.# 17169
Item #3502
Repeat Blooming
Endless Summer® Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Bailmer’ P.P. 15298
Item #1731
Repeat Blooming
Eola Salad Bowl Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Eola Salad Bowl’
Item #4149
Shade Loving
Eola Sapphire Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Eola Sapphire’
Item #4147
Shade Loving
Europa Japanese Astilbe
Astilbe japonica ‘Europa’
Item #0164
Spring Flowering
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Item #3645
Shade Loving
Astilbe x arendsii ‘Fanal’
Item #0350
Shade Loving
Fingerleaf Rodgersia
Rodgersia aesculifolia
Item #6957
Woodland Garden
Fire And Ice Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Fire and Ice’
Item #1749
Dramatic Foliage Color
NEW PLANT
Rodgersia ‘Fireworks’
Item #3223
Woodland Garden
Hosta tokudama ‘Flavocircinalis’
Item #1630
Shade Loving
Cyrtomium fortunei
Francee Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Francee’
Item #4169
Shade Loving
Frances Williams Plantain Lily
Hosta sieboldiana ‘Frances Williams’
Item #4223
Shade Loving
Frosted Jade Plantain Lily
Hosta ‘Frosted Jade’
Item #4395
Dramatic Foliage Color
Athyrium ‘Ghost’
Item #1876
Woodland Garden
Giant Lilyturf
Liriope gigantea
Item #5883
Shade Loving
Ginger Ale Coral Bells
Heuchera ‘Ginger Ale’ P.P.# 18173
Item #2223
Dramatic Foliage Color
Ginko Craig Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Ginko Craig’
Item #4153
Shade Loving
Girard’s Hot Shot Azalea
Azalea x ‘Girard’s Hot Shot’ (Girard hybrid)
Item #0745
Spring Flowering
Carex dolichostachya ‘Kaga Nishiki’
NEW PLANT
Dicentra spectabilis ‘Gold Heart’
Item #3562
Dramatic Foliage Color
Gold Standard Plantain Lily
Hosta fortunei ‘Gold Standard’
Item #4179
Shade Loving
Golden Guinea Japanese Rose
Kerria japonica ‘Golden Guinea’
Item #0877
Shade Loving
Golden Prayers Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Golden Prayers’
Item #4177
Shade Loving
Golden Tiara Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Golden Tiara’
Item #4208
Shade Loving
Granat Astilbe
Astilbe x arendsii ‘Granat’
Item #0162
Woodland Garden
NEW PLANT
Great Expectations Plantain Lily
Hosta ‘Great Expectations’
Item #1991
Dramatic Foliage Color
Green Carpet Vinca
Vinca minor ‘Green Carpet’
Item #7606
Cottage Garden Plant
Green Lustre Japanese Holly
Ilex crenata ‘Green Lustre’
Item #0753
Hedge Plant
Pachysandra terminalis ‘Green Sheen’
Guacamole Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Guacamole’
Item #1752
Shade Loving
NEW PLANT
Hadspen Blue Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Hadspen Blue’
Item #3189
Shade Loving
Halcyon Plantain Lily
Hosta x tardiana ‘Halcyon’
Item #4187
Shade Loving
Hard Shield Fern
Polystichum aculeatum
Item #3646
Woodland Garden
Heart Of Darkness Foamy Bells
Heucherella ‘Heart of Darkness’ P.P.# 14489
Item #2108
Dramatic Foliage Color
Astilbe simplicifolia ‘Hennie Graafland’
Item #0163
Dwarf Habit
High Contrast Lungwort
Pulmonaria ‘High Contrast’ P.P.# 12337
Item #4403
Dramatic Foliage Color
Himalayan Sarcococca
Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis
Item #7050
Deer Resistant
Honeybells Plantain Lily
Hosta x plantaginea ‘Honeybells’
Item #0713
Shade Loving
Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’
Hosta x ‘Hottsy Tottsy’
Item #4148
Shade Loving
Inshriach Pink Astilbe
Astilbe simplicifolia ‘Inshriach Pink’
Item #0348
Shade Loving
Ivory Prince Lenten Rose
Helleborus x hybridus ‘Walhelivor’ P.P.# 16199
Item #3999
Shade Loving
Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’
Item #3612
Shade Loving
NEW PLANT
Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. drupacea
Item #3521
Year-round Interest
NEW PLANT
Cephalotaxus harringtonia
Item #3522
Easy Care Plant
Karen Azalea
Azalea x ‘Karen’
Item #0181
Spring Flowering
NEW PLANT
King Of Hearts Bleeding Heart
Dicentra x ‘King of Hearts’
Item #0481
Woodland Garden
Krossa Regal Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Krossa Regal’
Item #4182
Shade Loving
Lady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Item #0502
Woodland Garden
Athyrium filix-femina ‘Lady In Red’
Item #1924
Dramatic Foliage Color
Lily-Of-The-Valley
Convallaria majalis
Item #2789
Showy Flowers
Little Leo Leopard’s Bane
Doronicum orientale ‘Little Leo’
Item #3329
Long Bloom Season
Dryopteris celsa
Luxuriant Fringed Bleeding Heart
Dicentra x ‘Luxuriant’ P.P.# 3324
Item #3161
Easy Care Plant
Maggie Daley Astilbe
Astilbe chinensis ‘Maggie Daley’
Item #3433
Summer Flowering
Makinoi’s Holly Fern
Polystichum makinoi
Item #3481
Shade Loving
NEW PLANT
Mardi Gras Bicolor Mix Lenten Rose
Helleborus ‘Mardi Gras Bicolor Mix’
Item #5772
Winter Flowering
NEW PLANT
Mardi Gras Black Shades Lenten Rose
Helleborus ‘Mardi Gras Black Shades’
Item #5698
Winter Flowering
NEW PLANT
Mardi Gras Red Shades Lenten Rose
Helleborus ‘Mardi Gras Red Shades’
Item #5699
Winter Flowering
NEW PLANT
Mardi GrasYellow Shades Lenten Rose
Helleborus ‘Mardi Gras Yellow Shades’
Item #5773
Winter Flowering
NEW PLANT
Geranium phaeum ‘Margaret Wilson’
Item #4404
Shade Loving
Max Vogel Japanese Anemone
Anemone x hybrida ‘Max Vogel’
Item #0284
Summer Flowering
Minuteman Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Minuteman’
Item #0698
Summer Flowering
NEW PLANT
Mirranda Climbing Hydrangea
Hydrangea anomala petiolaris ‘Mirranda’
Item #3501
Year-round Interest
Astilbe japonica ‘Montgomery’
Item #0167
Deer Resistant
NEW PLANT
Mountain Lady’s Mantle
Alchemilla alpina
Item #4868
Rock Garden Plant
Aucuba japonica ‘Mr. Goldstrike’
Item #0356
Shade Loving
Neon Lights Foam Flower
Tiarella x ‘Neon Lights’ P.P.# 13289
Item #2559
Shade Loving
Night Before Christmas Hosta
Hosta x ‘Night Before Christmas’
Item #4165
Shade Loving
Northern Lights Tufted Hair Grass
Deschampsia caespitosa ‘Northern Lights’
Item #0539
Dramatic Foliage Color
Olive Bailey Langdon Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Olive Bailey Langdon’
Item #2839
Shade Loving
NEW PLANT
Orange Marmalade Plantain Lily
Hosta ‘Orange Marmalade’
Item #3548
Dramatic Foliage Color
Orchid Frost Spotted Dead Nettle
Lamium maculatum ‘Orchid Frost’ P.P.# 11122
Patriot Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Patriot’
Item #4188
Shade Loving
NEW PLANT
Peacock Spikemoss
Selaginella uncinata
Item #7702
Groundcover
Pewter Lace Painted Fern
Athyrium niponicum ‘Pewter Lace’ P.P. # 15721
Item #4454
Shade Loving
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Pia’
Item #4207
Summer Flowering
Pink Lady Lenten Rose
Helleborus x hybridus ‘Pink Lady’
Item #2344
Shade Loving
Pink Skyrocket Foam Flower
Tiarella x ‘Pink Skyrocket’ P.P.# 13382
Item #3558
Woodland Garden
Pirate’s Patch Foam Flower
Tiarella x ‘Pirate’s Patch’ P.P.# 14907
Item #3659
Prolific Flowering
Lamium maculatum ‘Purple Dragon’ P.P.# 15890
Item #2490
Dramatic Foliage Color
Quicksilver Chinese Wild Ginger
Asarum splendens ‘Quicksilver’
Item #2912
Shade Loving
Raspberry Splash Lungwort
Pulmonaria longifolia ‘Raspberry Splash’ P.P.# 12138
Item #1106
Shade Loving
Red Baron Creeping Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens ‘Red Baron’
Item #1761
Groundcover
Red Lady Lenten Rose
Helleborus x hybridus ‘Red Lady’
Item #1799
Shade Loving
Red Sentinel Astilbe
Astilbe x arendsii ‘Red Sentinel’
Item #0168
Woodland Garden
NEW PLANT
Regal Red Japanese Painted Fern
Athyrium niponicum ‘Regal Red’
Hosta x ‘Regal Splendor’
Item #0701
Shade Loving
Renee Michelle Azalea
Azalea x’Renee Michelle’ (Girard hybrid)
Item #0203
Spring Flowering
Astilbe x arendsii ‘Rheinland’
Robust Male Fern
Dryopteris felix-mas ‘Robusta’
Item #3626
Shade Loving
Dryopteris felix-mas ‘Undulata Robusta’
Item #0506
Shade Loving
Royal Heritage™ Strain Lenten Rose
Helleborus x hybridus ‘Royal Heritage Strain’
Item #3998
Shade Loving
Royal Standard Plantain Lily
Hosta x plantaginea ‘Royal Standard’
Item #4173
Shade Loving
Rozannie Japanese Aucuba
Aucuba japonica ‘Rozannie’
Item #0366
Compact Habit
NEW PLANT
Ruby Red Spikemoss
Selaginella erythropus ‘Sanguinea’
Item #7703
Dramatic Foliage Color
NEW PLANT
Santa’s Delight® English Holly
Ilex aquifolium ‘Sadezam’
Item #2396
Year-round Interest
Aucuba japonica ‘Serratifolia’
Saybrook Glory Azalea
Azalea x ‘Saybrook Glory’ (Girard hybrid)
Item #0205
Spring Flowering
NEW PLANT
Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Zeblid’ P.P.# 5195
Item #4438
Dramatic Foliage Color
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’
Item #6717
Hedge Plant
Serendipity Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Serendipity’
Item #4184
Shade Loving
Microbiota decussata (UBC Clone)
Item #6161
Dramatic Foliage Color
NEW PLANT
Silver Bouquet Pulmonaria
Pulmonaria ‘Silver Bouquet’ P.P.# 20059
Item #5396
Cheilanthes argentea
Item #3178
Easy Care Plant
Silver Lace Christmas Rose
Helleborus argutifolius ‘Silver Lace’
Item #3545
Winter Flowering
Heuchera x ‘Silver Scrolls’ P.P.# 12066
Item #2012
Dramatic Foliage Color
Silver Sword Azalea
Azalea x ‘Silver Sword’ P.P.# 4718(Girard hybrid)
Item #0207
Spring Flowering
Sitting Pretty Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Sitting Pretty’
Item #4152
Dwarf Habit
Rhododendron x ‘Sneezy’ (H-2)
Item #1019
Spring Flowering
Anemone sylvestris
Item #0274
Fragrant
Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Prostrata’
Spring’s Promise Ice Angels® Camellia
Camellia japonica ‘Spring’s Promise’
Item #1498
Winter Flowering
Astilbe simplicifolia ‘Sprite’
Item #0353
Shade Loving
NEW PLANT
Stained Glass Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Stained Glass’
Item #4467
Dramatic Foliage Color
NEW PLANT
Sugar & Spice Foam Flower
Tiarella x ‘Sugar & Spice’ P.P.# 16738
Item #4756
Prolific Flowering
Sum & Substance Hosta
Hosta x ‘Sum & Substance’
Item #8397
Shade Loving
Sunny Skies Periwinkle
Vinca minor ‘Sunny Skies’ P.P.# 13466
Item #3692
Dramatic Foliage Color
Sweet Woodruff
Galium odoratum
Item #2383
Groundcover
Polystichum polyblepharum
Tradition Azalea
Azalea x’Tradition’ (Kurume hybrid)
Item #0209
Spring Flowering
Pulmonaria ‘Trevi Fountain’ P.P.# 13047
Item #3561
Showy Flowers
Variegated Bishop’s Weed
Aegopodium podagraria ‘Variegatum’
Item #1837
Groundcover
Variegated Common Periwinkle
Vinca minor ‘Variegata’
Item #7614
Deer Resistant
Variegated Gold Dust Plant
Aucuba japonica ‘Variegata’
Item #0375
Shade Loving
Polemonium ‘Brise d’Anjou’ P.P.# 9781
Variegated Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Sagae’
Item #4186
Shade Loving
Variegated Siberian Bugloss
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Variegata’
Item #1365
Groundcover
Variegated Solomon’s Seal
Polygonatum falcatum ‘Variegatum’
NEW PLANT
Very Berry Creeping Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens ‘Very Berry’
Item #3778
Groundcover
Astilbe chinensis ‘Visions’
Item #0362
Shade Loving
Whirlwind Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Whirlwind’
Item #2184
Dramatic Foliage Color
NEW PLANT
White Sensation Astilbe
Astilbe simplicifolia ‘White Sensation’ P.P.# 18462
Item #3739
Spring Flowering
Wide Brim Plantain Lily
Hosta x ‘Wide Brim’
Item #4185
Shade Loving
Vinca minor ‘Atropurpurea’
Item #7608
Cottage Garden Plant
Winter’s Snowman Ice Angels® Camellia
Camellia x ‘Winter’s Snowman’
Item #2007
Winter Flowering
Winterglow Bergenia
Bergenia cordifolia ‘Winterglut’
Item #2202
Year-round Interest
Melissa Allen
Wow this is by far the best list of shade plants I have come across! Thank you!
Marshall Hosel
Great list, thanks!